How to make an essay

Do not start a sentence with AND

"And" connects two ideas. You cannot connect two ideas if you start the sentence with "and."

Do not start a sentence with BUT

"But" connects two ideas. You cannot connect two ideas if you start the sentence with "but."

No use of "it".

"It" is vague. You can do better.

No use of "thing" and the variations.

"It" is vague. You can do better. Variations: Anything, everything, nothing, something.

Check proper citation

After EVERY quotation there should be (Author, Page Number) After EVERY quotation there has to be a punctuation mark INSIDE the quotation marks: He said " Hello, " (Author, Page Number) He said " Hello ! " (Author, Page Number) He said " Hello ? " (Author, Page Number)

Step 1 Brainstorm

Allow you to come up with ideas quickly. 5-10 mins

What is the difference between an essay and a summary.

An essay is YOUR OPINION. You have a THESIS STATEMENT, which is your opinion. A summary tells me WHAT HAPPENED. I do not need to know what happened. I have already read the book.

No contractions only possessives.

CONTRACTION: Can't = can not, Don't = do not

Check capitals

Capitals should be at the beginning of every sentence. You need to put capitals when using quotations and someone starts speaking.

Check double-spaced

Double-space your essay!

Check paragraph format

Each paragraph has to begin with an INDENT. A paragraph should not be two pages long. A paragraph should not be one page long. (Very rarely)

What is the equation for the quotation sandwich?

In the story when.................(quote)...............this reveals... Bun...................(meat, cheese, lettuce)......................bun... Introduction to quote.........(quote).......................reason...

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL WEBSITES

Last name, First name author of website. Name of Website. Date accessed. URL with angled brackets. Example: Moo, Mark. Sound of the Animals. 30 Oct. 2011 <http://www.cowgoesmoo.com>.

A WORK FROM A ANTHOLOGY

Last name, first name author of work. Title of work. Anthology name. Ed. First, Last name Editor. Where published: Company that published, year published. Pages. Example: Doe, John. "Plastic Forks." Grade 10 Literature. Ed. Tina Lee. New York: Oxford, 2012. 26-27.

BOOK WITH ONE AUTHOR:

Last name, first name author. Title of work. Where published: Company that published, year published. Example: Doe, John. How to Eat Cake. New York: Oxford UP, 1900.

Check Introduction and Conclusion

Make sure that they are 3-6 sentences long: Your introduction and Conclusion should both be 3-6 sentences long.

Check end marks

Make sure you are putting end marks! A sentence ends when you put a mark line (.) (?) or (!). A sentence is not measured by how many lines long it is, but the content.

check essay format

Name, Date, Teacher's Name in TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER. Title: Centred and Underlined

IT MUST BE:

On a separate page At the back of your report or essay 8.5" x 11" paper Double space Indent first line of entires (works)

Write in present tense.

Only write in present tense: not past tense, not future tense.

Check spelling

Read the essay backwards.

Check commas

Read your essay out loud. A comma is a pause and NOT a full stop.

Step 3 Outline

To help you organise your essay. Think of three situations from the work that prove your thesis. make sure you can find three quotations for each paragraph. 1. Introduction 2. Body (Write thesis here) a. _______________________ b. _______________________ c. _______________________ 3. Colusion

Step 4 Reference Topic Outline

To keep you organised as you plan your essay. You take the Outline and ad three quotations and the reason you chose the quotations. Connect your quotations to your thesis statement. 1. Introduction 2. Body (Write Thesis Here) a. ________________ 1. Quotation #1 1. Reason for quotation 2. Quotation #2 1. Reason for quotation 3. Quotation #3 1. Reason for quotation b. _________________ 1. Quotation #1 1. Reason for quotation 2. Quotation #2 1 . Reason for quotation 3. Quotation #3 1. Reason for quotation c. ___________________ 1. Quotation #1 1. Reason for quotation 2. Quotation #2 1. Reason for quotation 3. Quotation #3 1. Reason for quotation

Do not use: Text/Computer Talk

When you abbreviate a word: Talk to you later = TTYL

Do not use the word SO

You can do better.

Do not use the word VERY

You can do better.

Quotation Sandwich Examples

You do not have to use these examples. You can make up your own. 1. In the story when.....(quote).....this reveals... 2. When the author says.....(quote)...this shows... 3. When (character) says.....(quote)...this proves... 4. When the author writes about.....(quote)...this illustrates...

Step 5 Rough Copy

You need to get all of your ideas into an essay format. 1. Look at your reference topic. Outline! It has 90% of your essay! 2. Make sure each paragraph has three quotation sandwiches. 3. Write in present tense. 4. Write in paragraph format: Have an INDENT at the beginning of every paragraph. 5. Make it double-spaced.

Step 6, 7, 8 ... Editing And Final Copy

You need to get all of your ideas into an essay format. You can edit your work, and your friends and family too! Read out loud, in your head, backwards, forwards, and scan for particular items. 1. Check the writing checklist 2. Write in present tense 3. Quotation sandwich 4. Proper citation 5. PRINT YOUR FINAL COPY THE DAY BEFORE IT IS DUE.

Check did you refer to your Thesis Statement consistently?

Your Thesis Statement is the pillar of your essay: If you are not following your thesis statement, your essay does not make sense.

Step 2 Thesis Statment

Your essay is not a summary. Its is an opinion. 1 Look at your brainstorm. 2 which of the ideas in the brainstorm can i find the most quotations for. 3 Thesis equation. In book name, author's name shows the theme of ________________.

Why do we need quotations in your essay?

Your essay is written BECAUSE you have your opinion about it: your thesis statement. In order to PROVE that your thesis statement is TRUE, you need quotations.

Check did you follow your Reference Topic Outline?

the purpose of the reference topic outline is to organise your thoughts. If you do not use your RTO (reference topic outline) you are giving yourself extra work!